FIFA postpones bidding process for 2026 World Cup

World soccer governing body FIFA said Wednesday that it would postpone the bidding process for the 2026 World Cup amid the current bribery scandal.

A host nation was originally set to be picked in May 2017. In the U.S., Fox has the English-language rights for the 2026 World Cup.

On Wednesday, FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke announced the news of the decision to suspend the bidding process for now.

Swiss prosecutors have been investigating alleged irregularities around the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 events to Russia and Qatar, respectively. FIFA's decision to delay the decision on the 2026 host doesn't necessarily mean that bidding for earlier Cups may be reopened as some have suggested.

The U.S., Canada, Australia, various Latin American countries and others have in the past signaled an interest in hosting a future World Cup.